Evaluation Circuit for Processing Digital Signals, Method, and Sensor Assembly

ABSTRACT

An evaluation circuit for processing digital signals, the evaluation circuit processing an input data word and outputting an output data word, and a method for processing digital signals in an evaluation circuit, and to a sensor assembly.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

An evaluation circuit is described in German Patent Application No. DE199 55 513. Evaluation circuits of this type, also known as evaluationIC or ASIC, for processing sensor signals are adapted to the particularapplication. For example, they have a certain measuring range and acertain resolution, which are adapted to the parameters of the inputsignal received by the sensor, in particular its maximum level.Therefore, in the case of different input signals occurring in differentapplications, in general different sensors and evaluation circuits areneeded to provide the required particular measuring ranges andresolutions. Furthermore, in certain applications input signal peaks mayoccur which, in the case of a fixed measuring range, cannot berepresented without corresponding losses in resolution. It isfurthermore disadvantageous that the dynamic range of the sensor isrelatively limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The evaluation circuit according to the present invention has theadvantage over the related art that different types of sensors may beused for different applications, in particular with different measuringranges, sensitivities, and resolutions, with only one type of evaluationcircuit without the above-described disadvantages. The evaluationcircuit according to the present invention has, for this purpose, aplurality of signal paths, each of which is associated with a set ofparameters, the parameters defining the gain, the measuring range,and/or the resolution of the particular signal path, for example. Theevaluation circuit according to the present invention thus has asubstantially greater dynamic range. The dynamic range accessible inprinciple is thus advantageously better utilizable by the sensors. Inaddition, the evaluation circuit according to the present invention maybe used in a more flexible manner and the multiplicity of types isreduced. According to the present invention, an input data word isprocessed by at least one signal path resulting in a processed dataword. The input data word may also be processed by a plurality of, andin particular by all, signal paths. The term data word is understood ingeneral as a digital data set; input data word is understood as the dataset obtained from an analog signal by digitizing with the aid of ananalog-digital converter (sigma-delta converter), known to those skilledin the art.

The number of signal paths and the definition of the parameter sets maybe adapted to the particular area of use, i.e., application. The numberof signal paths is theoretically as large as desired. In practical use,the number is limited by a required measuring range having thecorresponding resolution for each signal path. In known applications,for example, for inertial sensors, media sensors, or pressure sensors,the number of reasonably usable signal paths is typically two to four.The parameter sets are usually assigned to the particular evaluationcircuit according to the present invention as early as duringmanufacturing. It is, however, also conceivable that the evaluationcircuit according to the present invention is initially manufacturedwithout assigning parameter sets and the parameter sets are only definedlater, according to the particular application, in a one-timeinitialization process. Those skilled in the art understand that at thistime individual, unneeded signal paths may also be shut off. Theevaluation circuit according to the present invention is thusmanufacturable cost-effectively and the multiplicity of parts isreduced.

In a preferred specific embodiment, the evaluation circuit has athreshold value switch, which selects one of the signal paths as afunction of the input data word or filters out one of the processed datawords of the signal path as the output data word as a function of theinput data word. The input data words may also be assigned to one of thesignal paths prior to running through these signal paths, for example,if the defined threshold values are exceeded. Alternatively, thethreshold value switch may be situated downstream from the signal pathsand there filter data words, processed simultaneously by all signalpaths, in an appropriate manner. In the case of this integratedevaluation or selection, the digital signal is processed by thecorresponding signal path without external influence. This specificembodiment is therefore applicable in a particularly simple anduncomplicated manner. An output signal may be reconstructed later fromthe differently processed output data words. For this purpose, codes,for example, information about the signal path, are appended to theprocessed data words.

In a further, preferred specific embodiment, the evaluation circuit hasan interface via which at least one of the signal paths is selectablefrom the outside for processing the input data word or at least one ofthe processed data words is selectable for output as an output dataword. The desired signal path may be selected by a microcontroller of acontrol unit, for example, via a so-called serial peripheral interfaceSPI. The particular signal path is addressed or activatable via adefined SPI instruction. In this specific embodiment the useradvantageously has an influence on the selection of the signal paths.When only one signal path is selected, coding of the processed datawords is not needed in this case because the particular selected signalpath is known. Those skilled in the art understand that multipleprocessed and coded data words which are obtained from the processing ofan input data word by multiple signal paths may also be output as a dataword. Therefore, one specific embodiment of the present invention, inwhich no selection of the processed data words takes place, but ratherall processed data words having the appended information are coded viathe signal path and jointly form the output data word, is particularlysimple. A later selection is always possible, for example, using amicrocontroller.

The method according to the present invention has the advantage thatsensor data may be used with the help of only one evaluation circuit fordifferent applications having different measuring ranges, sensitivities,and resolutions, and/or that the dynamic range is better utilized by thesensors.

One of the signal paths is preferably assigned to the input data word bya threshold value switch. Alternatively, the output data word isfiltered out from the processed data words by the threshold valueswitch. This integrated selection of the signal paths requires noexternal control.

In a further, preferred specific embodiment of the method according tothe present invention, at least one of the signal paths is selectablefrom the outside for processing the input data word or at least one ofthe processed data words is selected for output as an output data word.The selection takes place via an interface of the evaluation circuit,for example, to a microcontroller of a control unit. In a particularlypreferred manner, information about the particular signal path whichperforms the processing is appended to the processed data words at thetime of the processing. In particular, the information about thecorresponding parameter set, i.e., for example, the gain and/or themeasuring range, is appended. In the case of digital data, appending orlinking additional information is particularly easy. The output dataword is also particularly preferably formed from any desired number ofprocessed data words containing the appended information. The appendedinformation allows the data to be reconstructed at any time. Inparticular, the output data word may be formed from all processed datawords, including the appended information. Such a procedure requires noinitial selection and is therefore particularly easy to perform.

For example, at a later point in time, one of the processed data wordsis especially preferably selected from the output data word for furtherprocessing. This is done in particular on the basis of the appendedinformation, for example, for selecting the particular processed dataword having the optimum resolution.

Another subject matter of the present invention is a sensor assemblyhaving at least one sensor, having the evaluation circuit according tothe present invention, and optionally a converter for converting analogsensor signals into digital sensor signals, the digital sensor signalsbeing evaluable by the evaluation circuit using the method according tothe present invention. This makes it advantageously possible to providea multifunctional sensor for different measuring ranges in onecomponent, with no losses occurring in the resolution or in themeasuring range.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first specific embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 shows an alternative specific embodiment.

FIGS. 3 a and 3 b show an exemplary application of the specificembodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a processing scheme of an evaluation circuit 4 according tothe present invention and of a method according to the presentinvention. A digital input signal 5 is a sequence of input data words 5,which are digitized measuring values of a sensor (not depicted here),for example. Input signal 5 is applied to both a selector 9 and athreshold value switch 7. Threshold value switch 7 compares themeasuring value represented by input data word 5 with predefinedmeasuring value ranges each corresponding to a signal path 1, 2, 3 andthus ascertains signal path 1, 2, 3 provided for each input data word 5.A different set of parameters, which determines the type of signalprocessing, is assigned to each signal path. In the example shown,evaluation circuit 4 has three signal paths 1, 2, 3. Accordingly, threemeasuring value ranges are provided, so that threshold value switch 7decides, as a function of the particular input data word 5, to whichmeasuring range and thus to which signal path 1, 2, 3 is current dataword 5 to be assigned. However, any other number of measuring valueranges and associated signal paths would also be conceivable. Thresholdvalue switch 7 controls selector 9 via a link which is represented by aline labeled 10. In selector 9, input data word 5 is assigned to one ofsignal paths 1, 2, 3 for processing.

Data words 21, 22, 23 processed by signal paths 1, 2, 3 as a function ofinput data words 5 are recombined in a deselector 14 to form a signal 6.In order to be able to evaluate an output data word 6 later, information11, 12, 13 is required, which is assigned to each processed data word21, 22, 23 and indicates which of signal paths 1, 2, 3 has output dataword 6 run through. This information 11, 12, 13 is appended to theparticular processed data word 21, 22, 23 as digital code. Thisso-called header information may contain the set of parameters, forexample, the measuring range, or the gain of the particular signal path1, 2, 3. It may also contain a back-reference from which the parametersoriginate.

Those skilled in the art know that the threshold value switch may alsocontrol deselector 14 instead of or in addition to selector 9, which isindicated by the dashed line labeled 15. In this case, input data word 5would be conducted in selector 9 via all signal paths 1, 2, and 3simultaneously, so that subsequently three processed data words 21, 22,23 having header information 11, 12, 13 would be applied to deselector14. The threshold value switch selects, on the basis of the level ofinput data word 5, one of processed data words 21, 22, 23 having headerinformation 11, 12, 13 as output data word 6.

FIG. 2 shows, also schematically, an alternative specific embodiment ofevaluation circuit 4 according to the present invention and the methodaccording to the present invention. Input data word 5 is processedsimultaneously over each signal path 1, 2, and 3, which results in threeprocessed data words 21, 22, 23 each having appended header information11, 12, 13, which are available as data word 6.

In another specific embodiment, evaluation circuit 4 has an interface 8,which allows one of the processed data words 21, 22, 23 to be selected,which is then output as output data word 6. It is known to those skilledin the art that in this case no header information 11, 12, 13 is neededbecause the selected signal path 1, 2, 3 is known to the user who makesthe selection from the outside. The selection may be performed, forexample, by a microcontroller of a control unit which is not depictedhere.

The selection may also be performed upstream from signal paths 1, 2, 3by the user. In FIG. 1, threshold value switch 7 may be replaced byinterface 8, for example. In that case only one of signal paths 1, 2, 3would be run through. No coding of output data word 6 would be needed.

However, if information 11, 12, 13 is appended to processed data words21, 22, 23 via the particular signal path 1, 2, 3 that has been runthrough, then all processed data words 21, 22, 23, together with therespective header information 11, 12, 13, may jointly form output dataword 6. No initial selection takes place in this case. The output signalresulting from output data words 6 may be further processed, for exampledisplayed, on the basis of header information 11, 12, 13, at any laterpoint in time, for example, using a microcontroller.

An example of displaying or reconstructing measuring values with the aidof header information 11, 12, 13 is depicted in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b. Inputsignal 6 is a sinusoidal signal which is processed in digital form,i.e., in data words 6 by evaluation circuit 4 according to the presentinvention in the embodiment according to FIG. 1. Threshold value switch7 assigns input data word 5 to one of signal paths 1, 2, 3. The outputsignal resulting from output data words 6 is depicted in the diagram ofFIG. 3 a over time 30. The signal is not constant because whenpredefined threshold values are exceeded or not reached, switchover toanother signal path having another set of parameters occurs. It is to bepointed out that, when a certain absolute value is exceeded, switchoveroccurs, a greater measuring range and a smaller gain being used for therange of high absolute measuring values; because of this, the outputsignal has both lower values and a flatter shape. Since each output dataword 6 contains the measuring range and the gain as appendedinformation, curve 5′ of original input data words 5 may bereconstructed as is apparent from the diagram of FIG. 3 b, which depictsthe original sinusoidal input signal. A combined sensor assembly maythus be implemented, for example, for measuring accelerations, whichdetects and processes both slight accelerations at a high resolution anda small measuring range, and high accelerations at a low resolution anda large measuring range.

1-10. (canceled)
 11. An evaluation circuit for processing digitalsignals, the evaluation circuit processing an input data word andoutputting an output data word, the evaluation circuit comprising: aplurality of signal paths, at least one of the signal paths processingthe input data word, a set of parameters being assigned to each of thesignal paths, and different processing of the input data word resultingin at least one processed data word which is a function of parameters ofthe particular signal path.
 12. The evaluation circuit according toclaim 11, further comprising a threshold value switch which assigns theinput data word to one of the signal paths or filters the output dataword out from the processed data word.
 13. The evaluation circuitaccording to claim 11, further comprising an interface, at least one ofthe signal paths being selectable from outside via the interface forprocessing the input data word or the at least one processed data wordbeing selectable for output as an output data word.
 14. A method forprocessing digital signals in an evaluation circuit, the evaluationcircuit processing an input data word and outputting an output dataword, the evaluation circuit having a plurality of signal paths, themethod comprising: processing the input data word by at least one of thesignal paths; assigning a set of parameters to each of the signal paths;and providing different processing of the input data word by theparticular signal path resulting in at least one processed data word asa function of parameters of the particular signal path.
 15. The methodaccording to claim 14, further comprising one of: assigning one of thesignal paths to the input data word by a threshold value switch; andfiltering out the output data word from the processed data word by thethreshold value switch.
 16. The method according to claim 14, furthercomprising one of: selecting at least one of the signal paths from theoutside via an interface of the evaluation circuit for processing theinput data word; and selecting the at least one processed data word foroutput as an output data word.
 17. The method according to claim 14,further comprising appending information about the particular signalpath which performs the processing to the at least one processed dataword at a time of processing.
 18. The method according to claim 17,wherein the output data word is formed from a desired number ofprocessed data words containing the appended information.
 19. The methodaccording to claim 17, wherein the at least one processed data word isselected from the output data word for further processing, on the basisof the appended information.
 20. A sensor assembly comprising: at leastone sensor; and an evaluation circuit for processing digital signals,the evaluation circuit processing an input data word and outputting anoutput data word, the evaluation circuit including a plurality of signalpaths, at least one of the signal paths processing the input data word,a set of parameters being assigned to each of the signal paths, anddifferent processing of the input data word resulting in at least oneprocessed data word which is a function of parameters of the particularsignal path.
 21. The sensor assembly according to claim 20, furthercomprising a converter for converting analog sensor signals into digitalsensor signals, the evaluation circuit evaluating the digital sensorsignals.